Composer: Wolfgang Rihm
Performer: Mojca Erdmann, Anna Prohaska, Hanno Müller-Brachmann, Chor des Bayerischen Rundfunks
Orchestra: Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks
Conductor: Mariss Jansons
Format: FLAC (tracks)
Label: Neos, BR Klassik
Catalogue: NEOS11732
Release: 2018
Size: 779 MB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: yesNeos
Requiem-Strophen (Live)
Part 1
01. I. Initial. Omnis Caro Faenum et Omnis Gloria
02. II. Requiem Aeternam Dona eis Domine
03. III. Kyrie Eleison
Part 2
04. IV. Sonett I. Des Todes sicher, nicht der Stunde, wann
05. Va. Psalm. De Profundis Clamavi ad Te Domine
06. VI. Sonett II. Von Sünden voll, mit Jahren überladen
07. Vb. Psalm. De Profundis Clamavi ad Te Domine
08. VII. Sonett III. Schon angelangt ist meines Lebens Fahrt
Part 3
09. VIII. Der Tod ist groß
10. IX. Lacrimosa I. Lacrimosa Dies Illa
11. X. Sanctus Dominus Deus Sabaoth
12. XI. Der Tod ist groß
Part 4
13. XII. Lacrimosa II. Über dir in der Tage Gezweig hängt er
14. XIII. Agnus Dei Qui Tollis Peccata Mundi
15. XIV. Epilog. Ich gehe langsam aus der Welt heraus
The long-anticipated premiere of Wolfgang Rihm’s Requiem-Strophen (Requiem Verses) in March of 2017 was also a special debut: Mariss Jansons, principal conductor of the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, conducted his orchestra for the first time at the musica viva concert series. The live recording of this concert is being released as a co-production with BR Klassik, musica viva and NEOS.
Rihm extends the liturgical Requiem text with, among others, three sonnets by Michelangelo and “verses” by Hans Sahl. Tradition is of considerable significance to Rihm, but in the sense of “assimilating it,” “advancing it,” and “developing it.” In this sense, Rihm’s Requiem-Strophen are a highly personal approach to the Requiem genre by one of the most influential composers of our times.
Wolfgang Rihm’s Requiem-Strophen is a magnificent work. The composer, who was long contained with avant-garde circles, shows us here that he is also Brahms’ direct heir – the formal parallels with Brahms’ German Requiem are obvious in the lyrical tenderness of the most contemplative moments. Requiem-Strophen – created in 2017 by the same Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra who recorded it live here – combines Latin and German, mixing both the sacred biblical texts (the “Requiem” as well as passages from the Bible) with the secular poems (“stanzas”) of Rilke, Michelangelo and Johannes Bobrowski. The orchestral writing, powerfully modern and yet in tune with all the music of the past, displays sounds that are disturbing at times, reassuring at others, but always fascinating. Undoubtedly Rihm’s Requiem-Strophen joins the elite group of great Requiems in the history of music: Mozart, Britten, Brahms, Duruflé, Verdi, Penderecki, Berlioz and Fauré, to name of few of the best.